Football: Iowa State's David Montgomery, Josh Mueller "dinged up"

Saturday

David Montgomery stood on the sideline huddled around the running backs when the Iowa State offense trotted onto the field after halftime.

The do-it-all, multi-purpose running back had a full workload in the first half, but was “dinged up,” ISU coach Matt Campbell said, and the staff wanted to be cautious.

Montgomery is in constant communication with trainers and coaches about how he’s feeling in a game, but said he wasn’t sure he was being held out — at least at first — when halftime ended.

“Whatever they need, I’m willing to do,” Montgomery said. “So if anybody else needs to get in then that’s what needs done.”

Montgomery and left guard Josh Mueller were both nursing unspecified injuries while the offense sputtered at times in a 26-13 win against Akron on Saturday in Jack Trice Stadium. Mueller, who started the first two games at left guard, was held out and replaced by Collin Olson.

Johnnie Lang was inserted for Montgomery to start the second half, but the junior returned to tally 107 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown — his first 100-yard effort of the season. He added one catch for four yards.

“I think he’s fine,” Campbell said. “Just got dinged up a little bit and trying to be smart with him, especially giving some of those guys an opportunity to carry the football. I thought Johnnie came in and did a really great job, gave us a little spark.”

Lang, in his first-career opportunity at running back, had 22 yards on seven carries, including a 13-yard scamper on the first play of the second half. Sheldon Croney and Kene Nwangwu combined for three carries to provide depth, but aren’t true replacements for Montgomery.

Montgomery punctuated the first half with a one-yard score — on his third attempt — and showed his unique combination of elusiveness and physicality, particularly on a 21-yard burst three plays earlier. Holding him out on different series, Campbell said, was precautionary.

“I don’t know if we’re rolling the dice,” Campbell said of going with a backup to start the second half. “I think we really trust our guys that are behind him. We’ve got guys that haven’t even gotten in (or) gotten enough carries yet that we think are really good football players.

“The really hard thing about that position is we know there is one ball. I don’t know if we’re rolling the dice. Johnnie’s first run goes for 12 yards coming right out. We really trust those guys.”

Mueller’s absence wasn’t a game-changer, but it provided more flux to an offensive line that is looking for stability of any kind. Olson’s start means ISU has used three different looks in three games while quarterback Zeb Noland and the offense look to find a rhythm.

Montgomery and wide receiver Hakeem Butler provide valuable weapons that can break defenses down in space, but Mueller earned his job as a starter for a reason. He’d drawn praise from Campbell through the first couple weeks with his precision as part of the interior line.

“Josh’s situation, probably could have went today,” Campbell said. “We just didn’t want to push it. It was a tough situation in practice. If it was tomorrow you probably would have saw him start the football game.”

Olson, a redshirt junior, began his career on the defensive line before making the move to offense.

“He’s had a really good rise,” Campbell said of Olson.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.